Until recently, Andhra Pradesh did not have a comprehensive access to information law. However, civil society groups have been active in lobbying for legislation. Most notably, in August 2001, Loksatta, a leading civil society organisation, produced a draft Right to Information Bill for Andhra Pradesh.

Subsequently, in March 2002 a Cabinet Sub-Committee was set up to consider the right to information. The Cabinet Sub-Committee was disbanded after the Central Freedom of Information Act was passed. However, on 27 February 2004, a new Right to Information Committee was constituted. Despite this no concrete action was taken by the Government towards the entrenchment of right to information legislation in the State.

Law

In May 2005, the national Right to Information Act 2005 was passed by Parliament. The RTI Act 2005 received Presidential assent on 15 June and came fully into force on 12 October 2005. (For more information on the passage of the RTI Act 2005 and implementation at the national level, click here.) The RTI Act 2005 covers all Central, State and local government bodies and applies to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Charan Das Arha, retired bureaucrat, will be the first State Chief Information Commissioner. His name was cleared by a high-level committee comprising Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu and Finance Minister K. Rosaiah. According to official sources, Dileep Reddy, a senior journalist with a vernacular daily and senior Congress leaders Ambati Subba Rao and M Sudhakar Manohar Rao have been appointed State Information Officers. The state government has not confirmed the names officially saying that an official announcement will be made only after obtaining clearance from the Governor.

The Andhra Pradesh Government has published on its website detailed information on various government departments including details of their internal structure, norms, procedures, salaries, etc. as required under the proactive disclosure obligations of the RTI Act 2005.

The Andhra Pradesh Commissionerate of Information and Public Relations has published zonal lists of PIOs, APIOs, and First Appellate Authorities nominated under the RTI Act 2005.

Lok Satta along with print and electronic media is leading a massive campaign for improving citizens' awareness on the RTI Act 2005. Civil servants are also being supported so that they are able to provide information as required under the RTI Act 2005. Nearly 1.75 lakh publicity material including booklets, posters and pamphlets have been distributed and are being displayed across the state. The Andra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is collaborating with Lok Satta and is prominently displaying RTI posters in nearly 10,000 of their buses. Television channels are airing free of charge, the public service messages created by Lok Satta. This campaign is being conducted across the State, in collaboration with the Centre for Good Governance (CGG), AP Press Academy (APPA) and AP Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).

Loksatta is a non-partisan people's movement for better governance and electoral reforms. It is a grassroots organisation, which works mainly in Andhra Pradesh. Loksatta has been very active on RTI since 2001. Loksatta is also actively undertaking Election Watch work, including raising the issue of right to information via common platforms in all constituencies in the state. For further information:Contact Loksatta at Foundation for Democratic Reforms / Lok Satta 401, Nirmal Towers, Dwarakapuri Colony, Panjagutta, Hyderabad-82, India. Tel: 91-40-3350778 / 3350790. Fax: 91-40-3350783. Email:
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. Website: www.loksatta.org.